Friday

An activist in Australia sent us the following note, and we have his permission to reprint it here. His approach is unique. He is directly influencing people in power with a psychologically sound, emotionally intelligent approach. Here's what he said:

When I see politicians I take a hard copy. I start by asking how much time I've got. Once they tell me I hand them the article and tell them that this explains what I'm concerned about. I ask them to read a few pages, then I tell them that, "Some politicians have been deceived by members of the Muslim Brotherhood. Don't be one of them." If they tell me Islam is peaceful. I tell them I'm not talking about Islam. I'm talking about members of an organisation called "The Muslim Brotherhood."

Then I tell him or her to finish reading the article in their own time and that I'll be back in a few weeks. (They are likely to do this because they've already seen that the article is well written and informative.)

When I return I loan them a copy of the DVD "Honor Diaries" and say, "These ladies are asking for our help. Some people ignore them because most of them are Muslims. But that's not right. They're human beings with feelings like the rest of us. We should at least listen to what they have to say."

I also give them a copy of Mark Durie's book The Third Choice. (The author of that article above)

Anyway, some food for thought. Keep up the good work.

Regards,
Brad

I wrote back with some questions for Brad: How do you share this with police officers? Go to the police station? When you see them on the street? Or are some of them friends of yours?And when you see politicians, you're visiting them at their offices? Local politicians?

Brad answered:
I make appointments with politicians; and walk straight into police stations.

I've started putting the following at the end of Mark Durie's article (hand written): 'This guy has given a brilliant talk on-line called "Understanding Islam." If you find him to be rude, or obnoxious, or he comes across as a racist, just stop watching.'

I think that almost tempts them to watch it.

Regards,
Brad

That's really smart: To directly address what the other person must be thinking, but do it in a way that invites them in: "If you find the person rude or racist, just stop watching." Brilliant. And how he invites someone to watch the Honor Diaries is also clever. He dispels the idea that he is a bigot: "These ladies are asking for our help. Some people ignore them because most of them are Muslims. But that's not right. They're human beings with feelings like the rest of us. We should at least listen to what they have to say."

Posted by Citizen Warrior

1 comments:

I don't expect the strangers, I talk good politics, with to have time to hear or to be interested in the finer points of muslim sects. One question, I ask is "What would you tell a friend if they told you that they were thinking about converting to Islam and you or they only had a minute or two to talk?" After listening to them almost always give a unpursaive answer, I offer my answer: I hold up two adjacent fingers....point to one finger and say "Under Islam there is no freedom of speech (which would not please Mohammed)"......I then point to the other finger and add "no freedom of religion". I listen to them and respond if they have comment or question. I then lower the two fingers and raise then again, pointing to one finger, I say "Under Islam, your government and (pointing to the other finger) your religion are one and the same as I move the two adjacent fingers together, putting one slightly behind the other. I have gotten my point across and after my other questions about good politics, it is sometimes obvious that no one has offered to talk politics with them before and sometimes receive their sincere thanks and appreciation for taking the time to talk to them. I do this partly because I only remember two people talking politics to me personnally before I was 30 years old. One invited me to a Democratic party precinct meeting during the Jimmy Carter for president campaign.

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